Fishing-float.



No, 885,627. "PATENTED APR. 21, 1908." M, E. LOEHR.

FISHING FLOAT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1907;.

WITNESSES THE mmms PETERS ca, WASHINGTON, n, c.

MILES E. LOEHR, OF CLAYPOOL, INDIANA.

FISHING-FLOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 21, 1908.

Application filed June 29, i907. Serial No. 381,460.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILES E. LoEHR, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident.

. such that W en the hook is taken by a fish,

the device operates to strike so that the fish becomes caught. a

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction whichwill enable the device to indicate whether it has been'snapped or not;that is, whether or not there is a fish upon its line.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective showing the device as it operates in practice;and Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the device.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the body of thefloat, which consists of a small raft or platform reinforced by bolsters2 and 3 arranged at o posite edges thereof, as shown. Near the b nearthe middle axis of the float an o ening 4 is formed, as indicated in Fi2. djacent to this openin and on the si e near the bolster 8, a woo enindicator or blade 5 is attached pivotally by means of a staple 6 set inthe upper face of the float as indicated. At its hinged end, the bladeor indicator 5 is provided with a slit or centrally disposed slot 7, andin the lower ortion of this slot a trigger bar 8 is pivota ly attachedupon a fixe stud 9. Near its point of attachment to the stud or in 9,the tri ger bar 8 is provided with a s ght upward%)ow or curve 10, thepurpose of which will appear more fully herelnafter.

In the opening 4 aforesaid a trigger 11 is pivotally attached upon across pm 12 disposed just above the opening. This trigger is formed ofwire, and the upper extremity thereof iszformediintoja hook 13 which isolster 3 and cross bar as indicated in Fig. 2.

'13, as indicated in Fig. 1.

adapted to engage the end of the trigger bar 8, as will be describedmore fully hereinafter. The lower end of the trigger is formed into aneye 14 through which the cord or line 15 may pass, as shown.

At the opposite end of the float a second indicator or blade 16 ispivotally mounted by means of a pair of springs 17. This blade 16 isformed of a light wire frame, of substantially rectangular form, theside bars 18 of the frame being coiled so as to form the springs 17which lie adjacent to the face of the bolster 2. The edge of the bolsteradjacent to the bars 18 is provided with notches 19 which receive thebars 18 when the blade is in its erect position in which it is indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The body of the blade 16 consists of a metal plate attached to the wireframe, as will be readily understood; the outer end of this plate isremoved so as to leave an opening 20 which exposes the cross bar 21 atthe end of the blade.

It should be understood that the springs 17 tend to hold the blade 16 ina substantially upright position such as that indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 2. Near its middle point, the cross bar 21 is formed into an eye22 to which the end of the cord or line 15 is attached. When thedevice-is to be set to catch a fish, the indicator or blade 5 is movedinto an erect position as indicated in the drawing, and the trigger bar8 is moved back out of the way of the end of the indicator or blade 16,which is then depressed into a horizontal position lying on the face ofthe platform 1. Then the trigger bar 8 is moved down over the cross bar21 so that the bow 10 of the trigger bar receives the The end of thetrigger bar is then caught under the hook In this way the indicatorblade 16 is held in a depressed position. The line 15 which is attachedto the eye 22, passes through the eye 14 and hangs in the water, itslower end being provided with a hook and sinker like an ordinary line.When a fish seizes the hook and pulls on the line 15, he will move thetrigger 11 so as to disengage its hook 13 from the trigger bar;

This releases the indicator or blade 16 which then flies up suddenly toits erect position. It comes against the bolster 2 which holds it up. Inthis way the line 15 is suddenly pulled in so that the hook strikes thefish.

When the indicator 16 is released in this supported by the bolster 3.

It is intended that the float or a number ofthem shall be anchored out,and for this purpose, each float is provided with :an .1- bolt or ring23 to which the anchoring cord 24 may be attached as shown.

7 The spring-actuated member 16 and the parts for setting and releasingit, may be considered as :a trap mechanism; that is, this part of thedevice constitutes the :active or trap mechanism.

Attention is called to the fact that when the device is set, only :oneof .the indicators, namely, the indicator '5, will be in view, .enablingthe float to be seen from a distance at all times; but when the deviceis sprung or snapped, both the indicators will be in view. The indicatoror blade 16 being of metal, flashes in the sunlight and will attract thefishermans attention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire .to secureby Letters Patent:

1. .A fishing float having spring-actuated mechanism adapted to be setor sprung and having an indicator, means for holding said indicatorerect when the fishing float re mains set, a second indicator, means forholding said second indicator erect when said float is sprung, and meansfor holding said first indicator erect after said mechanism is sprung.

2. A fishing float having a releasable spring-actuated member having afishing line attached thereto, a pivoted blade constituting anindicator, means for holding said blade erect, means for holding saidspring actuated member depressed when set, and means for holding saidspring-actuated member erect when released, whereby said spring-actuated"member also constitutes an cat.

3. A fishing float having a body, a depressib'le spring-controlledmember mounted tflfiereupon, an indicator consisting of a blade,mechanism cooperating with said blade for setting said blade in an erectposition and said member in a depressed position, a fishing lineconnected with said mechanism and afl'ording means for releasing saidmember, and means for holding said member in an erect position whenreleased.

4. A fishing float having a body, a blade pivotally mounted on saidbody, a trigger bar attached thereto, a second blade attached to saidbody opposite said first blade and adapted to be depressed upon saidbody with its free end lying near said trigger bar, a trigger attachedto said body and ailording means for holding said trigger bar across thefree end of said second blade, and a line attached to said second bladeand guided upon said trigger.

5. A fishing float having a body adapted to rest upon the water, anindicator blade hinged to the upper side of said body, a spring pressedmember attached to said body, opposite saidblade, and adapted to folddown upon said body with the free end thereof disposed near the attachedend of said blade, a locking mechanism for holding said member depressedand said blade erect, said body having an opening near said mechanism,and a cord passing up through said opening attached to said member andaffording means for releasing said locking mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MILES E. LOEHR.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. ELDER, CHARLES H. Cox.

indicator showing the condition of the 5

